U.S. public vehicle records

1991 Pontiac LEMANS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

24 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1991 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 24 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	4	16.7%
Transmission and shifting	1	4.2%
Steering behavior	1	4.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

Suspension:Front

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Seat Belts	5
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	4
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	3
Suspension:Front	2
Vehicle Speed Control	2
Electrical System	1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	1

Seat Belts: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 3; Suspension:Front: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2002

1995: 11; 1996: 3; 1997: 1; 1998: 2; 1999: 4; 2000: 2; 2002: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 484069 · 1995-07-12 (July 12, 1995)

BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 544560 · 1999-03-24 (March 24, 1999)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHEN RELEASING ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 544560 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 835641 · 1999-03-10 (March 10, 1999)

RIGHT AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNTION VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH AREA. OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION AND WIRES ARE BEING REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 835641 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 566061 · 2002-06-11 (June 11, 2002)

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

24 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 24 records

79.2%Valid incident date19 / 24 records

100.0%Valid filing date24 / 24 records

79.2%Ordered incident and filing dates19 / 24 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1979	1980	1981	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Seat Belts	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	416.0% ODI 482010 AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DISCONNECTED DUE TO SHORTING OUT BATTERIES PRIOR TO RECALL. (94V-248) *AW Look up ODI 482010 at NHTSA ↗	520.8% ODI 509007 MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STICKS. Look up ODI 509007 at NHTSA ↗	838.1% ODI 481471 AUTOMATIC SHOULDER COMES ACROSS DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S NECKS. *AW Look up ODI 481471 at NHTSA ↗	211.1% ODI 480820 AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS FREEZE IN POSITION DURING COLD WEATHER, ALSO ERRACTICALLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH ALONG TRACK DURING COLD WEATHER. *AW Look up ODI 480820 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 802058 THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING (FAILED) . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK Look up ODI 802058 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 816766 WHILE GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION . THE FRONT OCCUPANTS WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT, INJURING THE FRONT OCCUPANTS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK Look up ODI 816766 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	416.7% ODI 544854 SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY AT STABLE SPEEDS. IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHILE RETRACTOR IS LOCKED UP, DRIVER IS PINNED TO SEAT UNTIL RETRACTOR SELF CORRECTS.(APPR 15 SECS). Look up ODI 544854 at NHTSA ↗	14.8% ODI 488684 AUTOMATIC RESTRAINING SYSTEM FAILED. *SD Look up ODI 488684 at NHTSA ↗	211.1% ODI 803364 IN COLD WEATHER THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKNG , PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK Look up ODI 803364 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 963979 CONSUMER WAS LOCK IN SEAT BELT TRY TO RELEASE THE BELT TO GET OUT COULDN'T RELEASE BELT THIS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. TT Look up ODI 963979 at NHTSA ↗	426.7% ODI 971339 THE DRIVERS SEATBELT HAS BROKEN. THE RED TAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUCKLE CAME OUT AND NOW IT DOES NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT Look up ODI 971339 at NHTSA ↗	312.0% ODI 485495 SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS (93V-154). *AK Look up ODI 485495 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	323.1% ODI 481913 DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT TOO SHORT, CAUSING FASTENING DIFFICULTY. Look up ODI 481913 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.0% ODI 960880 TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL WORK, DEALER DID NOT DO, HAD CAR FOR ONE WEEK. TT Look up ODI 960880 at NHTSA ↗	312.5% ODI 500858 SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *DSH Look up ODI 500858 at NHTSA ↗	29.5% ODI 962070 HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR LUBRICATION OF SHOULDER BELT OWNER CLAIM NOT HAVE THE LUBRICATION. TT Look up ODI 962070 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 481913 DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT TOO SHORT, CAUSING FASTENING DIFFICULTY. Look up ODI 481913 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.0% ODI 981083 DRIVER EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. *AK Look up ODI 981083 at NHTSA ↗	416.7% ODI 482689 VEHICLE VIBRATES ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. Look up ODI 482689 at NHTSA ↗	14.8% ODI 958396 UPON APPLYING BRAKE DURING PANIC STOP, AT APPROX. 10-12MPH, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ROLL FORWARD, NO PRIOR WARNING. TT Look up ODI 958396 at NHTSA ↗	211.1% ODI 515890 RIGHT REAR LIGHT BULB INOPERATIVE. Look up ODI 515890 at NHTSA ↗
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 527922 SEAT BELTS FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. Look up ODI 527922 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 489016 SEATBELT FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. *TW Look up ODI 489016 at NHTSA ↗	14.8% ODI 715240 HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FAILURE. REPLACED SWITCH THREE TIMES, EACH TIME THE SWITCH MELTED AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED THE WIRING TO WHICH THE SWITCH IS CONNECTED ALSO MELTED. IN REGARDS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT, IT FAILS TO RETRACT. THIS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. Look up ODI 715240 at NHTSA ↗	422.2% ODI 500672 NOISY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *DH Look up ODI 500672 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	426.7% ODI 482802 PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKES. *TW Look up ODI 482802 at NHTSA ↗	14.0% ODI 980423 EXPERIENCE BRAKE MALFUNCTION, WHEN FRONT BRAKES HEAT UP, PADS WEAR EXCESSIVELY, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, BRAKE ACTION INADEQUATE NORMAL STOP AND GO CONDITIONS. *AK Look up ODI 980423 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.6% ODI 515890 RIGHT REAR LIGHT BULB INOPERATIVE. Look up ODI 515890 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 481095 DISTRIBUTOR MODULE FAILED. Look up ODI 481095 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	28.0% ODI 481383 DISC BRAKES REPLACED TWELVE TIMES, ALSO ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED. *SKD Look up ODI 481383 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.8% ODI 968981 INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER. *AK Look up ODI 968981 at NHTSA ↗	15.6% ODI 515890 RIGHT REAR LIGHT BULB INOPERATIVE. Look up ODI 515890 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1992: 2 complaints · 1993: 9 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1992	1	1	2
1993	2	3	9

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1992	15	6	0
1993	17	1	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Seat Belts	Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	Suspension:Front	Vehicle Speed Control	Electrical System	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
Seat Belts	—	1 ODI 544854 SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY AT STABLE SPEEDS. IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHILE RETRACTOR IS LOCKED UP, DRIVER IS PINNED TO SEAT UNTIL RETRACTOR SELF CORRECTS.(APPR 15 SECS). Look up ODI 544854 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	1 ODI 544854 SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY AT STABLE SPEEDS. IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHILE RETRACTOR IS LOCKED UP, DRIVER IS PINNED TO SEAT UNTIL RETRACTOR SELF CORRECTS.(APPR 15 SECS). Look up ODI 544854 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	0	—	0	2 ODI 482689 VEHICLE VIBRATES ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. Look up ODI 482689 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Suspension:Front	0	0	2 ODI 482689 VEHICLE VIBRATES ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. Look up ODI 482689 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	1 ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System	0	0	1 ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 566061 VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. *YD Look up ODI 566061 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 8.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 484069

BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

Look up ODI 484069 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 835455

EXPERINECED BRAKE FAILURE A NUMBER OF TIMES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50MPH CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, AND LET VEHICLE DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE ADD VIN#. DEALERS HAVE SPRAYED THE LINKAGES A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE TEY WERE NO ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. IN FEBRUARY, 1999, DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT AXLES, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES. *AK

Look up ODI 835455 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule